Chain construction



Sept. 1, 192s. l 1,551,916

L. E. VALCOURT CHAIN CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan'. 30, 1924 Patented Sept. 1, 1925.

UNITEDl STATES PATENT OFFICE..

LOUIS E. VALCOURT, 0F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO LOUIS STERN C0., OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND.

CHAIN CONSTRUCTION.

Application inea Jaary 3o, 1924, serial No. 689,532.

To all whom t may concern.' Be it known that I, LoUIs E. VALCOURT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chain Constructions, of which the following is al specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of chains or bracelets formed of a plurality of links; and the object of the invention is the construction of such a chain or bracelet, the links of which telescope one within the other rendering the same extendible in the direction of its length.

A. further object of the .invention that y both the inner and outer telescoping members of the chain are in somewhat box-shape so that when these members are extended the plain Walls onlv of the inner members ywith the inner connecting member thereby rendering the chain very flexible.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certainvnovel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in-` the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figurel is a side elevation showing a portion o f the chain as provided with hooks on its ends for attachment to a wrist watch.

Figure 2 shows one of the outer boxshaped links which is preferably formed of a short section of tubing.

Figure 3 shows the development of one of the inner links as cut from sheet stock with its side edges bent up.

Figure 4 showsthe parts of the inner link as folded upon themselves forming a chain with its links extendingy and exposing the plaln surface of the inner telescoplng hnk.

Figure 8 is a view of the under side of the chain showing its links extended and lllustratmg the cut-away portion of the under side of the` inner telescoping links to permit a sliding or telescoping action.

It is found in the practical construction and operation of bracelets of this character of advantage to hinge the different members of the chain or bracelet together so as to render the same flexible; also to construct the links of theA chain or bracelet so that when extended only the plain surface. of the inner or telescoping link may be exposed thus enhancing the appearance of the bracelet, giving the same a broader surface for ornamentation and at the same time excluding foreign matter from the telescoping parts; and thefollowing is avdetailed vdescription of one construction by which these advantageous results may be accomplished:

lWith reference .to the drawings, 10 designates theouter' box-shaped link which may be constructed in any suitable way but which is preferably formed from a length oftubing, the same having Aa pair of ears 11 formed on its side walls at one end thereof and a spurvor spring supporting abutmentlQ formed on these-called bottom Wall 13 ofl this tube.

An inner telescoping link `14 is formed preferably of sheet stock as illustrated in Figure 3, also in somewhat of a box-shape, one half of which link is formed with a top wall 15 with shallow side walls 16,-the central portion of the bottom wall 17 -on the other half being cut away leaving a slot 18 bet-Ween the side arms 19. These arms also have narrow side walls 20 which after being formed are folded over onto the walls 16, in the manner illustrated in Figure 4, thereby providing an inner telescoping, boxshaped link with the middle portion of the parts,I have cut away the portion of the side walls as at 22 forming an opening 23 next outer link, which iino'ers are turned inwardly as illustrated in Figure 5, to engage these openings and so.hinge these two link members together. The spur or abutment 12 on the lower wall of the outer boxlink is turned inwardly to extend through the opening 18 in the inner link and then its extremity 25 is turned inwardly towards theopposite abutment 24 on he inner link and a coiledspring 26 is inserted between these two abutments 12 and 24'to normally Figure 8.

My improved chain or bracelet is of a very practical construction and is very strong and durable and may be made-very handsome and 'attractive in appearance which is especially true owing to the broad exposed surface of the inner links when the chain is extended. s

The foregoin description is directed solely towards t e construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I re-A serve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of, the appended claims.

I' claim:

1. An extendible bracelet i.structure comprising a series of outer tubular boxes, sheet t metal connecting inner box links therefor each folded upon itself and each of a corre-y lfor the reception of the lingers 11 on the-- spending shape and size-,to fit closely and shde in said outer boxes, inwardly-extending hinge fingers on` each of said boxes for engaging the folded end of one of said links to hinge said link to said box, andyielding means for connecting the opposite end of said link to the next adjacent box.

2. An extendible .structure comprising a series of tubular outer boxes, connecting inner box links having hinge openings therein and telescoping in said outer boxes inwardly-extending hinge lingers on each o said outer boxes engaging the openings in .the next adjacent inner box link for hingedly securing that link to that box, and spring means acting between said inner and outer boxes and links for normallyholding said boxes in contracted relation.

3. An extendible bracelet structure comprising a series of tubular members, links telescoping in each of said members and eachhaving-an opening in one of its ends and a hook-shaped abutment at its other end, fingers integral with each of said members andlocated at`one end thereof bent into the opening of the link telescoping in the next adjacent member, a hook-shaped abutment on each of said4 members at the other end thereof, and a spring carried by said link and held between said abutments for causing said member to be normally held in contracted position.

4.-An"extndible chain structure comprising a series of outer boxes, `inner boxes telescoping in eachof said outer boxes and having a slot in one of its walls and an abutment at one of its ends, an abutment carried by said outer 'box extending into and slidable in said slot, means for connecting said inner box to the next adjacent outer box, and a spring acting between said abutments to normally press said boxes into contracted position wlth atelescopic action.

In testimony whereof -I aix my signature.

LOUIS E. VALCOURT.

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